East St. Louis officials yesterday temporarily suspended the liquor license at nightclub Blackmon's Plaza following a wild fight early Saturday morning. During the fight, captured on video, club security can be seen body slamming and sucker-punching customers as chairs fly through the air during a melee that led to 40 officers from multiple jurisdictions arriving on the scene to quell the violence. The fight followed a concert at the club by rapper Webbie.

As the Belleville News-Democrat reports today, Mayor Alvin Parks and the the city's liquor commissioners also fined the club's owner, Johnny Blackmon, $1,000. That's the largest fine the city can issue for a first offense in the calendar year. The club will also lose its liquor license until April 20.

At last night's meeting, liquor commissioners said swift punishment was necessary. The impoverished city counts on its late-night clubs for much needed tax revenue and East St. Louis officials don't want to scare off potential customers.

"East St. Louis is a great entertainment spot, but we will not tolerate hooliganism and thuggery," said Parks in noting that another city venue, Club Posh, is scheduled to play host to nationally known hip-hop star Lil' Wayne on Sunday.

Here's an additional video the fight. Action starts at about the 1:20 mark.